A joint investment of $30 million from the Provincial and Federal Governments was announced today to complete the final phase of the Team Gushue Highway. The highway’s completion is in addition to the unprecedented five year, $1.4 billion investment in provincial highway infrastructure, which reflects the importance of a well-developed transportation network to the province’s social and economic development.

The funding will support the completion of a north-south arterial highway route in St. John’s and Mount Pearl. The end of the Team Gushue Highway will be connected to the Pitts Memorial Drive (Route 2) and Robert E. Howlett Memorial Drive (Route 3) interchange using a roundabout corridor. This will involve extending the paved highway from Topsail Road—where the Team Gushue Highway currently ends—to the Commonwealth Avenue, Brookfield Road and Heavy Tree Road area.

The project also includes installing drainage culverts, an overpass structure and auxiliary access roads, as well as re-aligning a section of Brookfield Road. Once complete, this project will alleviate traffic congestion, improve safety and enhance access to and from the cities of St. John’s and Mount Pearl and the surrounding urban and rural communities.

Since the Team Gushue Highway was first conceptualized approximately 30 years ago, there have been significant changes to the surrounding environment that impact the Team Gushue Highway connection to Pitts Memorial Drive and Robert E. Howlett, such as residential and commercial developments and increased traffic volumes.

An engineering report on the Team Gushue Highway was completed by Harbourside Engineering. The consultant’s report helped determine the best approach to tie in the existing Team Gushue Highway with the Robert E. Howlett Highway and Pitts Memorial Drive in terms of the most effective and efficient path forward for traffic flow and safety. The report is available here.

In the coming days, the Provincial Government will issue a Request for Proposals for the final detailed design work for the tenders regarding this project.

Quotes
“The final phase of the Team Gushue Highway is one of the last remaining key components of a regional roadway network envisioned for the northeast Avalon region, which was first identified in a comprehensive regional development plan over 50 years ago. It is a game changer for residents on the southern Avalon to access key provincial services and social infrastructure, including the province’s largest health care and post-secondary facilities. Our government committed to getting this project done, and I am very proud that this commitment has now come to fruition.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

“Today’s announcement signals the completion of a major highway project that will improve safety as well as access to and from the cities of St. John’s, Mount Pearl and the surrounding areas. It is the culmination of incredible work by the engineering team in my department and will further enhance benefits for the area by better integrating Goulds and various rural communities on the southern Avalon Peninsula with the provincial highway network on the northeast Avalon Peninsula.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure

“We’re finishing the Team Gushue Highway. That means less time in the car and more time at home with family. This a game changer for us in St. John’s, Mount Pearl and across the Avalon Peninsula.”
Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr.
Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South–Mount Pearl

“Our partnership with Premier Furey and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is about delivering results for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians – and that is exactly what we are doing today. These long-awaited upgrades to Route 3 will make it easier and safer for residents of St. John’s, Mount Pearl and the southern Avalon peninsula to get where they need to be while supporting good jobs in the trades.”
Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities

“The completion of the final phase of the Team Gushue Highway is very welcome news for the entire region. This will help address traffic volumes and congestion within the City of Mount Pearl, while further enhancing the safe and efficient movement of residents throughout the Avalon region.“
Honourable Lucy Stoyles
MHA for Mount Pearl North

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